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From Phase I to Phase III: Navigating the Path to a $489M IDIQ
"The Long Capture team expertise helped us in the early stages to better understand the strategy for how to extend our Phase I SBIR to our new SBIR Phase III. The strategy and insight helped us start the process with GSA and we were able to navigate the remaining steps to a $489M IDIQ contract award in 2025. For anyone in the ecosystem looking for Phase III support, they're experts I'd recommend you add to your team!"
Transitioned from a $50k SBIR Phase I to a $489M sole-source IDIQ, with a super flexible scope.
Previously working with Long Capture, the company had successfully secured a Phase I SBIR, demonstrating early technical validation and government interest. However, like many SBIR awardees, they faced uncertainty around how to transition this to a Phase III.
Moving from Phase I to Phase III is not a linear process. The company needed help answering critical questions:
How do we extend Phase I momentum into a viable Phase III strategy?
What contracting vehicles best support a large, scalable award?
How do we engage GSA and navigate federal acquisition processes with confidence?
How do we justify and achieve a hight contract ceilign?
How do I make the most out of my small phase I award and use this Phase III sole source authority?
Without expert guidance, even strong SBIR performers can stall at this stage.
The company partnered with Long Capture becuase of our deep expertise in SBIR-to-Phase III transitions, federal acquisition strategy, and large-contract execution.
Transitioning from early SBIR success to large-scale federal contracts is one of the most challenging phases for innovative companies in the defense and government ecosystem. This client entered the process with a successful Phase I SBIR but needed a clear, executable strategy to move into Phase III and unlock long-term federal revenue. By partnering with Long Capture, the company was able to design and execute a Phase III strategy that ultimately resulted in a $489M IDIQ contract award in 2025, positioning the business for sustained government growth at scale.
Space Technology
Phase III Strategy & Project Initiation
Long Capture partnered with the company at the outset to kick off the Phase III effort, translating an initial Phase I SBIR success into a clearly defined, executable Phase III strategy. Beyond simply extending the SBIR, Long Capture helped frame the effort as a scalable program, identifying mission-aligned use cases that justified a broader scope and long-term government adoption. This early strategy work ensured the program was positioned from day one to support expansion, flexibility, and growth across multiple customers and requirements
Negotiating Contract Terms & Ceiling, and Building Contract Structure
With the strategic foundation in place, Long Capture guided the company through the GSA engagement and contract vehicle selection, deliberately shaping the contract structure to allow for maximum flexibility. Our influence here was to negotiate this beyond just the Air Force customer that this was built for, but to broaden it for any military branch and federal agencies to use as well.
Long Capture also helped build out contract documentation and justification for a large contract ceilign, aligning anticipated demand, customer interest, and long-term scalability with acquisition best practices.
Execution Through Award
Armed with a well-structured strategy, defensible scope, and a clearly justified ceiling, the company successfully navigated the remaining federal acquisition steps. Long Capture’s guidance throughout execution helped ensure alignment between strategy, contracting, and government expectations—culminating in a $489M IDIQ contract award in 2025.
- Successful transition from SBIR Phase I to Phase III - Strategic engagement with GSA - $489M IDIQ contract award enabling long-term scale - Clear, repeatable pathway for future federal growth -
Phase III success doesn’t happen by accident. It requires early planning, the right contracting strategy, and experienced guidance to navigate complex federal systems. For companies serious about scaling beyond SBIR and into meaningful, long-term government revenue, Long Capture provides the expertise to turn early wins into transformational outcomes.
In contrast to a MAC IDIQ, this is a sole-source IDIQ, meaning Tech7 is the only company on this IDIQ, which means that all of the funding up to $489M would go directly to Tech7. This makes it easier to add more money onto it.
You can find more information on IDIQs HERE.
Note: while a SBIR Phase I was the main traction for Tech 7's Phase III success, it is not the only on-ramp for this type of award. You can create a similar path with Other Transactions as well.
